23 



dwelling organisms of the continental shelf, 

 although our fishermen cannot claim the same 

 exclusi\e rights respecting fish in all the waters 

 above the shelf. 



Installations for the simultaneous desalination 

 of water, generation of electricity, and extraction 

 of dissolved chemical substances may very well 

 stimulate finther industrial expansion along our 

 coasts. Even now studies are imderway to deter- 

 mine the net effect of such installations on the 

 natural ecological balance of the marine environ- 

 ment. 



Another area of concern is the effect of urban 

 and indtistrial expansion on nearshore recrea- 

 tional areas. The waters of the continental shelf 

 must be used for waste disposal. The long term 

 purifying effect and vast space of the ocean makes 

 it an excellent processing facility for industrial 

 and municipal wastes. This use too, if improperly 

 managed, can upset the natural balance of near- 

 shore areas. 



The ocean boundaries of our country also rep- 

 resent an important resomxe for recreation. 

 Even now State governments are pooling their 

 capabilities for the development of large portions 

 of their common coastlines. With the increased 

 number of beaches, marinas, and other ocean 

 related recreation sites, a heavy responsibility 

 will be placed on those agencies concerned with 

 the health and welfare of individual Americans 

 enjoying the ocean. Thus, as development of 

 mineral, animal, and recreational resources 

 proceeds, it is apparent that scientific management 

 practices must be initiated to conserve the shelf 

 environments. 



As industry and the public are encouraged to 

 develop and use the resources of the continental 

 shelf and its overlying waters, it is incumbent 

 upon the Federal government to assess — now — 

 the scientific requirements and specific opportu- 

 nities inherent in exploration of this territory, 

 newly acquired by the United States as a result 

 of the convention. 



In recognition of this potential, the ICO will 

 identify the total Federal effort on the conti- 

 nental shelves in a document to be released later 

 this year, and incorporate this effort in the FY 

 1968 National Oceanographic Program. Agency 

 programs contributing to our knowledge of the 

 shelf and its contents are identified in the Re- 



search, Surveys and Ocean Engineering sections 

 of this document and represent about 40 percent 

 of the national oceanographic effort. 



DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

 Department of the Navy 



FY 1965-$30,422,000 

 FY 1966 -$31, 2 10,000 

 FY 1967-$32, 149,000 



Background 



Among its many assigned missions, the Depart- 

 ment of Defense is responsible for maintaining 

 sufficient mastery of the sea to prevent sea- 

 launched attacks upon the United States and her 

 allies, and for projecting this power to any part 

 of the world when necessary for national security. 

 Within the Department of Defense the Navy has 

 the responsibility for developing the weapons, 

 equipment, vehicles, and tactics necessary for 

 mastery of the ocean. This responsibility demands 

 an intimate knowledge of the Navy's operational 

 environment above and on the ocean's surface; 

 throughout its vast, ever-changing water mass; 

 and on and beneath the seabed. To obtain this 

 essential knowledge, the Navy has undertaken 

 a broad oceanographic research effort, with 

 programs centered in three major elements of 

 the naval establishment: (1) Office of Naval Re- 

 search; (2) Naval Material Support Establishment 

 (which includes the Naval laboratories); and (3) 

 Naval Oceanographic Office. In FY 1967, these 

 programs are expected to contribute further to 

 the broad national goal — Improving National 

 Defense — by advancing our knowledge of the 

 marine environment and thus contributing to 

 naval systems development, ship and equipment 

 design, and operational fleet readiness. 



Office of Naval Research 



FY 1965-121,410,000 

 FY 1966-121,927,000 

 FY 1967-122,222,000 



Background 



The main objective of the Office of Naval Re- 

 search ocean sciences program is to build up a 



